Harriett stays where she is as Cameron rings the changes

A WORCESTERSHIRE MP has missed out in a reshuffle of David Cameron's Cabinet as the Prime Minister rung the changes.

Harriett Baldwin was tipped as one of the contenders for a seat at the PM's top table as he dumped a raft of high-ranking veteran figures in favour of more women.

The West Worcestershire MP will instead remain a Government whip, and has a new boss after Michael Gove was removed as education secretary and made chief whip.

She has been promoted within the Whips office though, with the title of Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, replacing Stephen Crabb who is now the Secretary of State for Wales.

She will work hand-in-hand with Mr Gove at the commons in trying to push through new laws by getting MPs to back the Government.

At one point yesterday another county MP, Redditch's Karen Lumley, was also tipped to replace former policing minister Damian Green but it came to nothing.

Last night Mrs Baldwin said "you should never believe reshuffle rumours" and insisted it was unfounded.

Sources close to Mrs Baldwin said she is happy staying where she is and never had an inkling she was in the frame despite media links.

"This reshuffle is about putting in place a strong team to deliver a long term plan that ensures a brighter future for our country and to win us a majority at the next election," she said.

Amid the wide-ranging changes, by far the most extensive overhaul Mr Cameron has made as Prime Minister, more than a dozen male junior ministers lost their jobs.

The number of women in the Cabinet has doubled from three to six.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has moved to a lower profile role as commons leader and has announced he will retire next year.

Defence secretary Philip Hammond takes over his job, while treasury minister Nicky Morgan is the new education secretary.

Worcester MP Robin Walker said: "We've been so used to there not being big changes - we've never had a reshuffle like this since 2010 but everyone in the Cabinet has got there on merit.

"The biggest surprise is William Hague and Michael Gove."

Elsewhere, veteran minister Ken Clarke has left the Cabinet while Liz Truss, a 38-year-old education minister first elected in 2010, has become the environment secretary after Owen Paterson was sacked.

Mr Paterson was instrumental in the controversial badger cull pilot which took place in parts of Worcestershire.

Mark Harper who quit as immigration minister after admitting employing an illegal immigrant as a cleaner, is back in the Government overseeing work and pensions.

The changes are the final roll of the dice for Mr Cameron's Government before next year's general election.

Comments

Stop Wasting Our Tax
1:14pm Wed 16 Jul 14

"Sources close to Mrs Baldwin said she is happy staying where she is and never had an inkling she was in the frame despite media links." Don't believe a bit of it. The woman is only happy when she has publicity. I sometimes wonder if she is sponsored by the Gazette she appears in it so much. Probably why she didn't have time to reply to my letter complaining about the farce which is MHDC.

"Sources close to Mrs Baldwin said she is happy staying where she is and never had an inkling she was in the frame despite media links." Don't believe a bit of it. The woman is only happy when she has publicity. I sometimes wonder if she is sponsored by the Gazette she appears in it so much. Probably why she didn't have time to reply to my letter complaining about the farce which is MHDC.Stop Wasting Our Tax

"Sources close to Mrs Baldwin said she is happy staying where she is and never had an inkling she was in the frame despite media links." Don't believe a bit of it. The woman is only happy when she has publicity. I sometimes wonder if she is sponsored by the Gazette she appears in it so much. Probably why she didn't have time to reply to my letter complaining about the farce which is MHDC.

Score: 4

Jabbadad
2:46pm Wed 16 Jul 14

Hattiette is Party Politcally doing very well. She probably spends too much time licking Camerons boots to have time to lick a stamp on a reply to you.

Hattiette is Party Politcally doing very well. She probably spends too much time licking Camerons boots to have time to lick a stamp on a reply to you.Jabbadad

Hattiette is Party Politcally doing very well. She probably spends too much time licking Camerons boots to have time to lick a stamp on a reply to you.

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